robertk wrote:my view is that "secular" is just another word for a worldview.

Yes, and what of it? Who cares if this is just another worldview, governments are worldly by their nature and should remain that way. So Let's leave the governing to elected secular governments without interference from religious groups running their own agendas, so that the citizens are not lumbered with the religious values of others. Now, if we wish to apply the dhamma (or any other spiritual path) at an individual level, then we should just get on with it and do this without interference. This in my opinion is how it should work and is also what Bhikkhu Bodhi is advocating.

"Freedom of religion and freedom from religion" is essentially an expression of this principle.

Do you think ethics is somehow devoid of worldview. In his article Bodhi writes I must oppose policies detrimental to these ideals. I see politics, not merely as a naked contest for power and domination, but as a stage where great ethical contests are being waged, contests that determine the destiny - for good or for ill - of everyone in this country and on this planet.
Trump’s presidential campaign challenged each of the ethical ideals I cherish, and if he acts upon his campaign pledges, his policies may entail misery for people in the United States and all across the world

robertk wrote:
Still there are over 800,000 abortions each year in the USA, and if Trump was able to reduce that number by even 10% then over the course of his presidency 320,000 lives would be spared, in that 4 year period alone.

According to the CDC, in 2013, the abortion ratio was 200 abortions per 1000 live births; in 2008, the ratio was 234 abortions per 1000 live births. Thus, from 2013 to 2008 the ratio decreased by 34 abortions per 1000 live births, a decrease of 14% in the abortion ratio.

The number of abortions was 825,000 in 2008; and 664,000 in 2013. That would be a decrease of 20% in the number of abortions.

robertk wrote:
Still there are over 800,000 abortions each year in the USA, and if Trump was able to reduce that number by even 10% then over the course of his presidency 320,000 lives would be spared, in that 4 year period alone.

According to the CDC, in 2013, the abortion ratio was 200 abortions per 1000 live births; in 2008, the ratio was 234 abortions per 1000 live births. Thus, from 2013 to 2008 the ratio decreased by 34 abortions per 1000 live births, a decrease of 14% in the abortion ratio.

The number of abortions was 825,000 in 2008; and 664,000 in 2013. That would be a decrease of 20% in the number of abortions.

The CDC admits that the numbers it reports are grossly lower than the actual numbers. in the CDC 2011 report ( the latest I can find online) they state
L

imitations
The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First, because reporting requirements are established by the individual reporting areas (18), the collection of data varies, and CDC is unable to obtain the total number of abortions performed in the United States. During the period covered by this report, the total annual number of abortions reported to CDC was consistently approximately 70% of the number recorded by the Guttmacher Institute (14,61), which uses numerous active follow-up techniques to increase the completeness of the data obtained through its periodic national census of abortion providers (14). Although most reporting areas collect and send abortion data to CDC, this information is submitted to CDC voluntarily. Consequently, during 2002–2011, six of the 52 reporting areas did not provide CDC data on a consistent annual basis, and for 2011, CDC did not obtain any information from California, Maryland, or New Hampshire.***** In addition, whereas most reporting areas that send abortion data to CDC have laws requiring medical providers to submit a report for every abortion they perform to a central health agency, in New Jersey and the District of Columbia, medical providers submit this information voluntarily (17). As a result, the abortion numbers these areas report to CDC are incomplete.††††† Moreover, even in states that legally require medical providers to submit a report for all the abortions they perform, enforcement of this requirement varies (62). Consequently, several other reporting areas tend to provide CDC with incomplete numbers